After President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive action ordering the construction of a wall along the United States’ border with Mexico, Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) issued a scathing statement criticizing Trump’s order.

“The facts have not changed. Building a wall is the most expensive and least effective way to secure the border,” Hurd said in a Wednesday statement. “Each section of the border faces unique geographical, cultural, and technological challenges that would be best addressed with a flexible, sector-by-sector approach that empowers the agents on the ground with the resources they need. A wall may be an effective tool in densely populated areas, but a variety of tools are needed between Brownsville, Texas and San Diego, California.”

Hurd, who represents a large swath of the border, noted that it’s not possible to build the wall in certain areas along the border.

“The 23rd District of Texas, which I represent, has over 800 miles of the border, more than any other Member of Congress, and it is impossible to build a physical wall in much of its terrain,” the congressman said in the statement. “Big Bend National Park and many areas in my district are perfect examples of where a wall is unnecessary and would negatively impact the environment, private property rights, and economy. There is no question that we must secure our border, but we need an intelligence-led approach in order to effectively combat the 19 criminal organizations currently operating in Mexico.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Caitlin MacNeal is a News Writer based in Washington, D.C. Before joining TPM, Caitlin interned and wrote for the Huffington Post, the Sunlight Foundation and Slate. She is a graduate of Georgetown University.